Sick, weak and nauseous, you’re almost an exception if you haven’t been lately. That’s how it seems anyway. But is the disease wave this year really that intense? We asked for EenVandaag Asks what you wanted to know about this.
We submitted your questions to virologist Adam Meijer of the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM).
1. Is this wave of illness more severe than in other winters?
“We don’t know yet, the flu epidemic is still in full swing. But the course so far is similar to some seasons before the COVID-19 pandemic.”
2. What is causing the current wave of disease?
“For the time being, the current wave of illness of people with respiratory complaints seems to be mainly caused by an accumulation of patients with infections with various respiratory viruses: the flu virus, SARS-CoV-2 (corona), respiratory syncytial virus (RS virus), human metapneumovirus (sibling of RS virus) and rhinoviruses, which are circulating at the same time.”
“It’s actually more or less like what we saw before the COVID-19 pandemic during late fall to early spring. But now with an additional and serious respiratory virus, namely SARS-CoV-2, the current coronavirus.”
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3. Has our resistance collectively decreased due to 2 years of corona measures?
“Not collectively. People – especially young people – who have not become ill with various viruses in recent years are now most affected. People who were ill with these viruses before the COVID-19 pandemic still have at least partial immunity .”
“Some viruses easily give a new infection, for example the RS virus. There are more than 100 different types of others, such as the rhinovirus. Being infected again, but by a different type, is therefore not uncommon. People in the high-risk groups can simply get the flu shot during the COVID-19 pandemic. And there was a flu epidemic in the spring of 2022, which also had a positive effect on immunity against flu.”
4. Has our immune system been weakened by the corona vaccination?
“No, there’s no evidence for that.”
5. Are there self-tests for flu, such as those for corona?
“Yes, there are. But as far as I know, these are not yet available in the Netherlands.”
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6. Why can you still get flu symptoms if you have had the flu jab?
“In addition to the influenza virus, flu-like complaints can also be caused by the other respiratory viruses. The flu shot does not help against that.”
“And despite the flu shot, you can still become infected with the flu virus, which can still result in flu-like symptoms. But these are often mild due to the effect of the flu shot.”
7. Does weather affect how a virus spreads?
“Temperature and humidity play a role, with some viruses more than others. In general, viruses remain contagious longer at a low temperature and a really low humidity or really high humidity.”
“At higher temperatures, viruses lose their infectivity faster and at moderate humidity, regardless of the temperature, too. Another reason is that people are more often indoors and close together in cold weather and there is often less ventilation.”
8. How can you protect yourself or others?
“Many advice that has proven useful during corona is also useful for other respiratory viruses. So stay home if you have complaints, sneeze or cough in the elbow, wash hands frequently, keep your distance and ventilate. And be extra careful with vulnerable people.”